ADVERTORIAL
TEXT
ALEX ROBERTS
PHOTO
EATOUT / YAYA
YES,
YAYA!
This almost hidden
series of gems
set within one of
Nairobi’s premier
malls, will leave both
your mind and taste
buds boggled.
From its Food Loft to cafes, take a peek into Yaya Centre
as Nairobi’s premier foodie destination
If the phrase “food court” has you
imagining greasy Chicago pizza,
soggy chips and Lebanese shish
kebabs, then you’re in for a treat
when you visit the Food Loft at the
top floor of Yaya Centre. No, this
isn’t your run of the mill, franchiseowned, badly lit section of the mall
that for all intents and purposes
seems to have been stuck in as an
afterthought. Opting for quality
rather than quantity, the Yaya Food
Loft hosts four bijoux restaurants:
Primi Piatti, Mint Leaf, Chinese
Kitchen Dim Sum Restaurant and
Absolute Juice. Sitting side by side,
these eateries strive to present
clients with some of the best food
in town, without undue delay, and
at a price that even a foodie on a
28.
shoestring can afford.
Elisabeth Klem is the Managing
Director of Yaya Centre and she
has some ideas as to why the
Hurlingham mall is rapidly becoming
the go to destination for all things
culinary. “The restaurants are all
together but with individualised
service,” she explains, “choice is
certainly there, from Chinese to
Indian to contemporary- there is
something there for everyone.”
The foodie crew has definitely
taken notice as they increasingly
flock to Yaya Centre to have their
palates amazed. And the gourmet
destinations do not by any means
end at the Food Loft. From Alexandre
Bakery, to Sierra Brasserie, to the
recently opened, ever popular
Artcaffe on the ground floor, serious
food lovers have been put on notice.
For the lunchtime crowd both
Alexandre and
Artcaffe can provide quick, light and
delicious lunches. If a sandwich is
what you are after Alexandre offers
the closest thing to gourmet lunch
delights with their open sandwiches.
If instead your idea of lunch heaven
is a Caesar Salad with just enough
croutons and parmesan to get your
tastebuds raving, then Artcaffe is
the place to go. Sierra Brasserie,
which UP Magazine recently voted
as serving the best steaks in the
whole of Nairobi, is definitely your
high-end after work place to go. If
you’re looking to chill with friends
or impress a client, you’ll get to
enjoy carefully selected wine, as well
as beer straight from Sierra’s own
brewery on Mombasa Road.
The ambience is something that
really needs to be seen to be
understood. Tiny, tucked away
corners open up into wide elegant
restaurants, everything with its own
place to belong. “The consistency
is amazing,” says Klem, “Yaya has a
great variety for any pocket size.”
So if you plan to get fancy with your
appetite this month, then look no
further than Yaya to get your culinary
fix.